Monday, May 30, 2016

3 Things I Love in a Good Story // Cordy


from Cordy


1. Situations requiring trust 


I know that it’s more common to have a main character who happens to be the ‘chosen one’ and does most of the work to accomplish a particular goal. When this, or any other storyline, is used, I wish there were more situations that required trust. Sometimes, I feel like more stories are creating characters where ‘lack of trust’ is somehow a badge of bravery and smarts. I disagree. When you have to trust someone that trust will often have to replace pride. I admire those moments where the main character simply can’t do everything and just rely on themselves, they have to put faith and trust in others to accomplish a task with more than just their personal skill. When trust is both offered and either betrayed or proven true it adds needed depth to a story. Naturally, I prefer when trust is well placed rather than when trust is betrayed. But that’s just me. :) 


2. Has to be moving 


I want to feel engaged and involved with the stories that I am reading or watching. I want to have an interest in the characters and their struggles. Emotional interest if possible. I want to be motivated, surprised (surprising me is huge!), I want to cry, I want to laugh, I want to feel betrayed, and I want to feel hope. Oh, one side note here, I don’t want to feel the remorseful emotions because of a death. ‘Need an emotional boost to your story? Kill someone.’ What?! No! Deaths are quickly becoming the answer to every emotional problem and I feel like that ‘tip’ is detrimental to true story telling. 


3. Happy endings 


I understand the whole idea of needing to stay true to a character and your story which means that sometimes happy endings don’t and can’t happen. However, I love the idea of redemptive happy endings. The happy endings that take you by surprise because they aren’t the realistic choice. In my opinion, we already live in reality where happy endings appear to be harder to come by. (I like to believe they aren’t as rare as they seem.) I’m okay having an unrealistic happy ending once in a while in a story. I know that I have been disappointed in a story because it hasn’t had a happy ending, but I haven’t ever been disappointed in an unplanned happy ending. There is so much hope and encouragement in happy endings! 


Thanks for having me, Heidi! I had a splendid time!

(Note from Heidi: Thank you so much for sharing, Cordy!! :))

~     ~     ~ 

And... would you like to share three of your favorite things in a guest post? You don’t have to be a writer to qualify! This series is by story lovers for story lovers.
For post specifics/guidelines you can see the initial post here, then send Heidi a quick email at ladyofanorien(at)gmail(dot)com. (Don’t be shy. I’d love to have you! :))

11 comments:

  1. Thanks again for having me, Heidi!!
    It was awfully good fun!!

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  2. I loved all three of your points!! I never thought of the first one, but it's quite true and interesting. :)

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    1. Thanks, Natalie! Ooh, I like being interesting. :D

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  3. 1. Oh, I agree. I hadn't really thought of it that way before, but it really does add depth to a story when the main character CAN'T do everything on his/her own and has to learn to trust and rely on others. And yes, I prefer the trust to be well placed, too. :)

    2. Totally! I MUST get emotionally involved with the characters, or the story is just flat.

    3. YES TO HAPPY ENDINGS! I know there's a place for sad endings sometimes, but for the most part happy is best. :)

    This was a very nice post, Cordy! I enjoyed reading your answers. :) Oh! And I really like the choice of pictures. The last two especially. (Actually, I don't recognize the first one. What movie is that from?)

    ~Miss March

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    1. 1. Oh yes! Well place trust is the best. The satisfaction that comes when risky trust is placed and proven true!! I can't get enough of it!!!

      2. Uh-huh! I simply can't care without feeling involved.

      3. :D :D :D All the way!!

      Thanks, Miss March! I had a hard time finding the pictures so I'm glad you appreciate them!! That first picture is from Finding Neverland. It's a story based on J. M. Barrie's life. Or at least, part of it. I love the movie dearly! I chose it because of the whole Peter Pan phrase. Whenever I hear 'trust' I hear 'Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust'. It's just one of those things. ;D

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  4. Cordy, I totally agree with all of these! Especially the second one. WHY, why, why! do authors feel like they have to kill a character to keep my interest?! I hate to tell you, sir, but when you've reached THAT point, your story officially stinks :/

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    1. RIGHT??! It's so very frustrating!! And horribly sad. :'(

      "I hate to tell you, sir, but when you've reached THAT point, your story officially stinks :/" Bahaha. Yes, indeed! I wholeheartedly agree!! ;D

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  5. Very good points! I hadn't thought about trust in fiction that way before, but you're so right, it can be so important.

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    1. Thanks, Hamlette! Yes, very important...haha, to me anyways. I'm glad you agree!

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  6. YASSS, GIRL. YASSS.

    Like the others are saying, I hadn't really considered trust before, but the whole can't-trust-anyone cliche is becoming a bit…cliche :P

    #2 and #3--absolutely. Happy endings "are quite my favorite sort." "As well they should be." :D

    Excellent list, Cordy! I really enjoyed reading it--you explained your points so succinctly and compellingly (that's a word?).

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    1. Exactly! :D Cliche, is just the word for it too. Haha.

      Oh, yes! There is nothing like them! :D

      Haha, that's very kind of you to say. Thank you, Olivia. :)

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